Help Sync Gmail as IMAP in Lollipop?

[elchip]

Preface: Nexus 6 running stock 5.1.

I am interested in syncing my Gmail as IMAP instead of, well, Gmail.

Why? Well, two main reasons. First, I can't get Gmail to sync with any frequency besides "Push." I have been finding that pushing email is consuming an inordinate amount of battery life on mobile. I have my exchange account set up to sync every hour, but I can't do this with Gmail. I presume IMAP lets you control this better.

Two, as far as I can tell, there's no way to turn off threaded viewing in Gmail. I dislike threaded viewing on my phone; always have.

However, when I try to add my account as IMAP, it complains that my e-mail address is already set up. True; but it's the account I use with Android in general. I'd just like to disable the e-mail part.

Is there any way to accomplish what I want in the stock Gmail app?

 

[Crashdamage]

A few things...

Gmail is IMAP by default. It's also what's known as 'true' push by default, sort of a special version of IMAP. True push is considered very desirable mainly because it's more power efficient than the regular IMAP version of push, called IMAP IDLE.

Point is, Gmail true push service is actually very, very light on power. That's one reason why it's on by default and there's no option to disable it in the Gmail app - there's not much reason to. I don't know why you think Gmail push is gobbling power. Can you show us?

Since you don't like the conversation view (I hear ya) and it can't be changed in the Gmail app, you need another email client. I've tried a lot of email clients and AquaMail is my choice for all of our devices. It is extremely customizable and handles Exchange. Basic setup for Gmail and Exchange is automatic. IMAP IDLE push mail is switchable, but I'd leave it on.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.kman.AquaMail

There's many other good email clients such as Maildroid, K9, Type Mail, Cloud Magic and more.

 

[zuben el genub]

Even the default mail client should let you set up IMAP and other accounts to link to other mail services. Aquamail does, and it syncs when you tell it to.

I've disabled Gmail.